New Flashcards
What is a monomer?
A smaller, repeating molecule from which larger polymers are made
What is a polymer?
A larger molecule which is made up of identical repeating monomers.
What is a condensation reaction?
A reaction in which two molecules join together, forming a covalent bond and releasing a molecule of water.
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
A reaction in which the covalent bond between two molecules is broken, which uses up a molecule of water.
Which polymer consists of repeating nucleotides?
Polynucleotides (DNA or RNA)
Which polymer consists of repeating monosaccharides?
Polysaccharides
Which polymer consists of repeating amino acids?
Polypeptides (Proteins)
What is the difference between alpha and beta glucose?
In α-glucose, the H is above the OH whereas in β-glucose, the OH is above the H
Draw a molecule of alpha glucose.
https://static.aqa.org.uk/assets/image/0018/235440/00055366-DA00046397-DB.png
Draw a molecule of beta glucose
https://static.aqa.org.uk/assets/image/0008/235439/00055366-DA00046396-DB.png
What are isomers?
Molecules with the same molecular formula but differently arranged atoms.
What are disaccharides and how are they formed?
A disaccharide is two monosaccharides joined together with a glycosidic bond. They are formed by a condensation reaction, which releases a molecule of water.
Which disaccharide does Glucose and Glucose make?
Maltose
Which monosaccharides make Maltose?
Glucose and Glucose
Which disaccharide does Glucose and Fructose make?
Sucrose
Which monosaccharides make Sucrose?
Glucose and Fructose
Which disaccharide does Glucose and Galactose make?
Lactose
Which monosaccharides make Lactose?
Glucose and Galactose
What are polysaccharides and how are they formed?
Polysaccharides are made up of many (more than 2) monosaccharides, joined together with glycosidic bonds. They are formed by many condensation reactions, releasing water molecules.
Describe the basic function and structure of starch.
Starch acts as an energy source in plant cells. It is a polysaccharide of alpha glucose. It contains both Amylose and Amylopectin. Amylose has 1-4 glycosidic bonds and is therefore unbranched. Amylopectin has both 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds, meaning that it is branched.
Describe the basic function and structure of glycogen.
Glycogen acts as an energy store in animal cells. It is a polysaccharide of alpha glucose. It has both 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds. Therefore, it is branched.
Describe the basic function and structure of cellulose.
Cellulose acts as structural support in plant cells. It is found in the cell walls of plant cells. It is a polysaccharide of beta glucose, held together by 1-4 glycosidic bonds forming straight unbranched chains. Chains are joined together with hydrogen bonds forming microfibrils.
Explain how the structure of starch is related to its function.
Starch is helical, so it is compact for storage in cell. Also, it is a large molecule, meaning it can not leave the cell. It is also insoluble in water, meaning that it does not affect the water potential of the cell, so no osmotic action which could damage the cell occurs. Also, it is branched to increase the surface area for faster hydrolysis.
Explain how the structure of glycogen is related to its function.
Glycogen is branched are is therefore compact and more molecules can fit in small area. Also, the branching results in a larger surface area for the enzymes to quickly hydrolyse the glycosidic bonds to release glucose. Also, it is a large molecule meaning it can not leave the cell. It is also insoluble in water, meaning that it does not affect the water potential of the cell, so no osmotic action which could damage the cell occurs
Explain how the structure of cellulose is related to its function.
Every second β-glucose molecule is inverted in a long, straight, unbranched chain. Many hydrogen bonds link parallel strands (crosslinks) to form microfibrils. Hydrogen bonds are strong in large quantities, so provides strength to plant cell walls
Describe the test for reducing sugars
Firstly, add Benedict’s solution, which is blue to the sample. Next, heat the sample in a water bath. A positive test will result in a green, yellow, orange or red precipitate depending upon on the concentration of reducing sugars.
Describe the test for non-reducing sugars.
If the result of the Benedict’s test is negative, there still could be non-reducing sugar present. Heat in a boiling water bath and add acid in order to hydrolyse into reducing sugars. Next, neutralise with alkali (e.g. sodium bicarbonate) Now, carry out the Benedicta test as normal by heating sample in a boiling water bath with Benedict’s solution. Positive result = green / yellow / orange / red precipitate.
What is the one example of a non reducing sugar (that’s on the specification)?
Sucrose
Suggest a method to measure the quantity of sugar in a solution without a colorimeter.
Carry out a Benedict’s test, then filter and dry the precipitate. Then, measure the mass of the precipitate.
Suggest a method to measure the quantity of sugar in a solution using a colorimeter.
First, make a dilution series of sugar solutions of known concentrations. Next, heat a set volume of each sample with a set volume of Benedict’s solution. Use a colorimeter to quantitively measure the absorbance of each known concentration, and plot a calibration curve with concentration on the x axis and absorbance on the y axis, and draw a line of best fit. Repeat the Benedict’s test with the unknown sample and find the concentration on the graph with is associated with the absorbance of the unknown sample.
Describe the biochemical test for starch.
Add iodine dissolved in potassium iodide, which is orange/brown. A positive result will cause a colour change to blue/black
Name 2 groups of Lipids
Triglycerides and Phospholipids
Describe the structure of a fatty acid.
Has a variable R Group which is a hydrocarbon chain which is either saturated or unsaturated. It also has a Carboxyl group.
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more Carbon-Carbon double bonds, creating kinks in the hydrocarbon chain. Saturated fatty acids contain no Carbon-Carbon double bonds, and therefore all Carbons are fully saturated with Hydrogen.
How do triglycerides form?
Triglycerides consist of 1 glycerol molecule and 3 fatty acids, which join via condensation reactions. Therefore, 3 molecules of water are released and 3 ester bonds form.
Explain how the properties of triglycerides are related to their structure.
The hydrolysis of the fatty acid chains releases a lot of energy, meaning that triglyceride molecules are ideal energy stores. Also, the fatty acid chains are hydrophobic, meaning that triglyceride molecules are insoluble in water. Therefore, the molecules do not affect water potential, so no osmotic action occurs, damaging cells.
Describe the difference between the structure of triglycerides and phospholipids.
One of the fatty acids of a triglyceride is substituted for a phosphate group in a phospholipid.